This is a quaint neighborhood eastern European cafe. Very…read morelovely, to sit and sip. Not a place to go to if you're in a hurry. Service was great and the barista knew their craft and took their time. I'm glad they had some food options. Pastries seemed, fine. Maybe pre-ordered. They do offer breakfast sandwiches made on site so maybe those might be tasty. Will visit again to try it out.

Great patio European feeling open three seasons Life music spring summer fall very European feelingread more

This place is so cute! It is street parking, on Shrewsbury Street, which can be very tough to find…read moresomething reasonably close. I love that it is a bookstore and cafe! You don't find this much anymore. The staff were all very friendly. You can order your items in either room or scan a QR code at your table. I had a pastry and a coffee, but my friends got full breakfast plates that looked amazing. Their menu is fresh, and they have lots of options for dietary restrictions! They make a lot of their offerings right there - even nondairy milk.

Fun, creative menu with lots of vegan and gluten free options. I got an earl grey matcha and an…read moreancient grains salad, I was impressed with both! It's a little bit hectic inside and seating is a bit tight, but otherwise great.

Brilla is our go to coffee shop in Holden. Coffee is consistently excellent hot or iced…read more Staff and atmosphere are wonderful. They also have a great roasting business.

Coffee was ok. Nothing to really rave home about. A little overpriced in my opinion. We went to the…read moreone in Natick mall.

Inviting space with a long showcase of treats in several categories, plenty of roomy tables, and a…read morelarge communal table. -- Muffins: I consider their blueberry muffin one of my favorites in Massachusetts, if not my #1. It's got just the right mix of bounce, density, and butteriness, without being too greasy. Big, fresh blueberries (not the shriveled kind). Plenty of crumbly streusel on top for extra taste and texture. Their mixed berry has multiple fruit presence and more of it, minus the streusel. Also very good. Sometimes the muffins are warm. Sometimes a little long in the tooth. -- Cakes: That's their claim to fame, and for good reason. They're more expensive than most, but so dense, rich, and heavy that a small slice goes a long way. My favorite is the chocolate raspberry decadence (pool of raspberry atop a deep, dark chocolate frosting). Or maybe the strawberry snowflake, which is like the best strawberry shortcake you ever had. -- Cupcakes: These often feature some of the same ingredients as the cakes, such as that killer chocolate ganache. Great for the toppings and fillings, though the cake part (especially if chocolate base) is often dry. -- Cookies: Noticeably less impressive, EXCEPT for the Linzer heart. Great flavor and texture in the raspberry and shortbread. -- Coffee: Good stuff. Not elite, but good, in heavy mugs with good feel. Service is a little lacking. Not so much because of rudeness, but because they're perpetually understaffed for the amount of business they do.

What are you craving! For us, actually just me!! It's a…read more"cupcake!" We are about ready to leave the state of Worcester, Massachusetts this was our last place before leaving! Cupcakes for the long drive home, and coffee ! Let's roll the dice and see what Yelp provides! Yelp you know me! This fine bakery it's a local vibe! It's wonderful exactly what one needs. They have not just cupcakes but all sorts of other items too . If you cannot find your favorite treats here you're not looking hard enough. We found what we needed, that special cup of a latte right before we go. The cakes were all on point. Truly a beautiful start to a new day . The service was amazing. Off to the races now. Find some fun and happy with new coffee and cupcake memories.

This place is electric!!! Love it here!! I definitely recommend this place for food and hanging out…read morewith friends or to get a little work done. The sky lights really make this place feel amazing and the clean air plants just makes it feel homey! I got the Vita-c which is a pressed juice really great! Also did a build your own smoothie. I loved it! Service was great! Everyone was nice and helpful!

Ordered a mobile order last week here and I was very underwhelmed. The Buddha bowl was nothing like…read moreit was around maybe 3 years ago. It was so bad I couldn't finish it... honestly. The chicken wasn't even "roasted" or seasoned. The veggies were basically raw and seasoning (they put beets and dark carrot? Instead of the sweet potatoes like a long time ago) and had no seasoning. They put micros greens and some type of green that was so hard to even eat because it was fragrant. The dressing was also bland. The order was close to $20 but it did not feel worth it whatsoever.

I really love finding hidden gems like Acoustic Java. I am a sucker for a good book store, AND a…read moregood coffee shop, and Acoustic Java is both! I stopped by to get a couple of coffees to go, and a pastry. The staff was very patient and pleasant to chat with - something I really miss with the larger coffee chains. The coffees were made exactly as I requested, and the pastry was warmed up and wrapped in a foil to maintain the heat. I really love the attention to detail. I'll note that I noticed they use Monin brand syrups (my favorite!). They are not the cheapest option, so it goes to show that the folks at Acoustic Java care about quality over maximizing profit. The location is great - a bit hidden, but the industrial vibe just fits for a small roasting company. I love that the roastery is visible through the glass panels. The packaged beans are all laid out for you to easily read the labels and shop. I love that they carry quality tea for non-coffee drinkers/tea lovers. The merch is also cute, I was very tempted to add yet another coffee shop tote bag to my hoard. They carry a huge variety of used and new books - and they offer the most unique pricing I've ever seen. You can look up the cost of the book online - so long as the condition is roughly the same, that's how much they will charge you for the book (+ tax)! That's amazing, and I don't know how they can possibly even make money with this policy, but with the giant chain and online retailers, it's really the best incentive to get folks to support local. I think one of the biggest highlights here, on top of the great coffee, ambiance, and service, is that they offer various tastings, classes, and live music events. Personally, I feel like this is key in building a community, and I love that they do this. You can look up the different events on their website, some of which are free to attend. I can definitely see this as a place to come read a book over some tea, catch up with a friend over coffee, or take a date to a barista class for a unique experience.

I owe an updated review here. My past review had been negative but I welcomed to give Acoustic Java…read moreanother chance and I'm glad I did. Their coffee remains consistent and they brew the best bean in town. Truly a hidden gem...literally. They're hidden in the back of Rotmans (old furniture store) and you'll never see it from the main road. I drink coffee on a regular basis and could probably consider myself an amateur coffee snob lol. Lately I have made a purchase for teas and my wife didn't like the selections I've chose so they were welcoming and honored an exchange. I just had to pay the difference which I was glad to. We had good company with us and so there's also ample seating in the next room--you can enter from the front of the building as you enter through the main entrance or go through the back. Cheers

There aren't many cozy cafes in Worcester, so coming here it was very refreshing. We used to live…read morein Boston! Once we got to the cafe, we were greeted warmly from the cashier/barista. The place is a whole vibe--pretty hipster, but in a great way. There's a barber shop in it, which is funny. There was also a good amount of people sprawled throughout the cafe on their laptops working away. Outside also has a nice patio. We sat here and sipped our coffees, as the warm morning sun helped wake us up. My fiance and I ordered two small iced americanos, $3.48 each. It has a tinge of sourness, but having added more water, it wasn't too strong. Maybe we will try asking for less water next time or even a quad shot! We will absolutely be returning for more--possibly even to work!

Came to Worcester for the day and decided to check out this place after seeing it on Instagram. So…read moregood! I got the coconut latte and it was so tasty and perfect for the cold weather. I got some bites from the Pig Out Bakery: cherry cobbler and cookie dough poptarts and a blueberry muffin. Delicious! I decided to stay a bit and read. I think it's more of an area to meet a friend for a quick drink, a bite from the bakery or while you're waiting for a haircut. Definitely check them out if you're in the area. I wish I lived closer.

We recently hosted our engagement party at BirchTree and truly could not have imagined a better…read moreexperience. My fiancé and I had been having a lot of trouble finding a venue that could host our crowd at a reasonable price, so we were beyond thrilled when Birchtree not only accommodated our 60 guests beautifully, but we actually ended up under budget. From start to finish, the service was phenomenal. The team was genuinely invested in making sure our night was perfect. They went above and beyond in every way and more than accommodated anything we needed. We had an outpouring of texts the next day from our guests. So many people let us know how beautiful the venue was and how wonderful of a time they had. The space itself truly showed a refined elegance which was the perfect kickoff to our wedding season. If you're thinking about working with BirchTree, Jayne, Caitlin, and the entire staff we're incredibly organized and attentive to detail, helping us set up, pack up, and even ensured all guests had clean tables, fresh drinks, and the bar staff recommended really unique cocktails & mocktails! We are so grateful to the entire BirchTree team, especially Jayne and Caitlin for helping us set the tone for our wedding. We would absolutely recommend having an event here - you will be in the best hands!

To paraphrase Charles Dickens and also Mary Kate and Ashley, was not the best of times, it was also…read morenot the worst of times. This was the very definition of fine. Space was nice and airy, art was cute, food was solidly mediocre. Everything was missing out on seasoning, except the tomato soup. The soup was solid. Bathrooms were quite dirty. The food cost too much.

Gonna keep this as short as I can without being too concise but..,, A oh my goodness!!!!!! So good…read more! They honestly had me at one simple question about my iced coffee order - "do you want water ice cubes or coffee ice cubes?" PFFT!! is that even a question? That's my gut reactor response to this question each time I'm asked and it's so made me a customer for lifffeeee. Like if you live in boston or nyc I bet this is commonplace for you and you can enjoy a laugh over this as you grip your phone pinky up - but for sweet old Holden mass it's like a tractor beam and I'm stepping in... willingly. my parents greatly enjoy the pastry from this place and I try to surprise them with something new each time. Haven't had anything I haven't liked thus far. I know there are drive through options nearby but this is 100000% worth the stop !

Best cup in town, great baked goods etc. as well. Cozy setting. They do need some sugar free…read moreflavors though, think they were out.

My fiance and I were trying out local bakeries to determine which one would suit us best to make…read moreour wedding cake. I loved what I saw from street view already, being someone who loves quaint homeyness over hoity-toity pretentiousness, but upon walking in I almost knew immediately this would be the spot. It's a lovely little bakery, in a very quiet part of Worcester, and I felt invited in by the staff upon entering. Mara knew who we were, sat us down and provided excellent samples on a platter and discussed our favorite colors, ideas, etc. during our consultation. By the time she finished, my fiance looked at me and we exchanged the decision that we were going with On The Rise. Now, it's a way's off before I'll see what our wedding cake turns out to be, but the samples we tried were wonder, the presentation was beautiful, the service was excellent, and I love knowing I'm supporting a truly local staple. (If I remember, I'll update this after the wedding!)

I'm hesitant to write this review because this is a best kept secret in Tatnuck! But yet... support…read morethis local business! I cannot speak for their catering business, but I highly recommend stopping by for a coffee and a pastry or sandwich! Prices are on point and the quaint space has a relaxing atmosphere. The owners will be there working hard and the service can't be beat. Low visibility, limited hours, and street parking but well worth stopping in.